Walsh: Farmers should join REPS 3

FARMERS should join REPS 3 (the new Rural Environment Protection Scheme) as soon as possible, to make sure that substantial levels of funding will continue to be available in coming years, according to the Minister for Agriculture Joe Walsh.

The minister was speaking in Portlaoise where he launched a new REPS 3 Farmer’s Handbook.

“This year I secured funding for REPS of €260 million. This was after long and intense discussions with the Minister for Finance. Now, if farmers don’t come into REPS 3 this year, and if we don’t use the money that was provided for 2004, then it could be more difficult to sustain our case for further increases in funding next year and in 2006.”